Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;domchryblus&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Domchryblus’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and full plant form; uniform and freely flowering habit; large decorative type inflorescences with light and darker purple-colored ray florets; response time about 49 days under controlled photoperiodic treatments; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOMCHRYBLUS’.

BACKGROUND OF TEE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant,botanically known as Chrysanthemum X morifolium, commercially grown as apotted Chrysanthemum plant, referred to as code number 65874 in U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/708,405 and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Domchryblus’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Fareham, Hampshire, United Kingdom. Theobjective ofthe breeding program is to create new potted Chrysanthemumplants with numerous attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination made inJanuary, 2015 by the Inventor in Fareham, Hampshire, United Kingdom of aproprietary selection of Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as codenumber 72042, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as codenumber 807827, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newChrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Fareham,Hampshire, United Kingdom in September, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by terminalvegetative cuttings was first conducted in Fareham, Hampshire, UnitedKingdom in December, 2015. Asexual reproduction by terminal vegetativecuttings has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemumplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under allpossible combinations of environmental conditions and culturalpractices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Domchryblus’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Domchryblus’ as a new and distinctChrysanthemum plant:

1. Upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit.

2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.

3. Freely branching habit; dense and full plant form.

4. Uniform and freely flowering habit.

5. Large decorative type inflorescences with light and darkerpurple-colored ray florets.

6. Response time about 49 days under controlled photoperiodictreatments.

7. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily fromplants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum are shorter than plants of the femaleparent selection.

2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum are not as upright as plants of thefemale parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily fromplants of the male parent selection in inflorescence form as plants ofthe new Chrysanthemum have decorative type inflorescences whereas plantsof the male parent selection have semi-decorative type inflorescences.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants ofChrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Chrystal Pink’, not patented. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differprimarily from plants of ‘Chrystal Pink’ in the followingcharacteristics:

1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have decorative type inflorescenceswhereas plants of ‘Chrystal Pink’have semi-decorative typeinflorescences.

2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and ‘Chrystal Pink’ differ in rayfloret color as plants of the new Chrysanthemum have inflorescences withlight and darker purple-colored ray florets whereas plants of ‘ChrystalPink’ have inflorescences with light purple-colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Chrysanthemum plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plantof ‘Domchryblus’ grown in a 14-cm container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the spring in 14-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in Fareham, Hampshire, United Kingdom andunder cultural practices typical of commercial garden Chrysanthemumproduction. During the production of the plants, day and nighttemperatures ranged from 17° C. to 21° C. and light levels averaged6,000 lux. Plants were grown under long day/short night conditions forabout two weeks and then grown under short day/long night conditions toinduce inflorescence initiation and development. Plants were ten weeksold when the photograph and detailed description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Domchryblus’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as code number 72042,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as code number 807827,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at            temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About twelve days at            temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 21° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically light brown in            color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,            substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous semi-decorative type            potted Chrysanthemum; stems upright to outwardly spreading            giving a uniformly mounded appearance to the plant; numerous            lateral branches and relatively short internodes, dense and            full plant form; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 19 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 27 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; about five primary            lateral branches develop after removal of terminal apex            (pinching).        -   Lateral branches (peduncles as plants are grown as            disbuds).—Length: About 10 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Internode length: About 1 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect:            About 60° from vertical and then bending upwardly. Texture:            Fine pubescence. Color: Close to 138B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 7 cm.        -   Width.—About 5 cm.        -   Shape.—Palmately-lobed; roughly ovate with three to five            lobes.        -   Apex.—Broadly acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Slightly dentate and palmately lobed; sinuses            between lateral lobes mostly divergent.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Fine pubescence; slightly rough.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Fine pubescence; waxy; veins            prominent.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137A. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137C; venation,            close to 147C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 137B; venation, close to 147C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Texture, upper surface: Fine pubescence; slightly rough.            Texture, lower surface: Fine pubescence; waxy. Color, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 147C.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Form and flowering habit.—Decorative type inflorescence form            with ligulate-shaped ray florets; inflorescences borne on            terminals above and beyond the foliar plane; disc and ray            florets arranged acropetally on a capitulum; freely            flowering habit with about 21 inflorescences developing per            plant during the flowering season.        -   Fragrance.—Mildly fragrant; pungent, herbaceous.        -   Flowering response.—Plants flower uniformly about 49 days            after starting short day/long night photoperiodic            treatments.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Good postproduction longevity;            inflorescences maintain good color and substance for about            two to three weeks on the plant; inflorescences persistent.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 6 mm. Diameter: About            6 mm. Shape: Oblate. Color: Close to 137C.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—Large, about 11 cm.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 5 cm.        -   Disc diameter.—Disc florets development has not been            observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum.        -   Receptacles.—Height: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 9 mm.            Shape: Oblate. Color: Close to N145A.        -   Ray florets.—Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About            260 arranged in about twelve whorls. Orientation: Initially            upright, then about 80° from vertical; slightly concave.            Length: About 4 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape: Ligulate.            Apex: Emarginate. Base: Fused into a short tube. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            double-keeled. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to            N78A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 76D blushed with            close to 76C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 76D;            with development, distally, close to 76C. Fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 76D blushed with close to 76C; color            does not change with development.        -   Phyllaries.—Number of phyllaries per inflorescence: About 28            arranged in about two whorls. Length: About 1 cm. Width:            About 3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            waxy. Texture, lower surface: Fine pubescence; waxy. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androccium: None observed. Gynoecium:            Present only on ray florets. Pistil length: About 6 mm.            Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: Close to 9B. Style            length: About 0.4 mm. Style color: Close to 1D. Ovary color:            Close to 145C.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not            been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common    to Chrysanthemum plants has not been observed on plants of the new    Chrysanthemum to date.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have    demonstrated good garden performance and to tolerate temperatures    from about 0° C. to about 35° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named‘Domchryblus’ as illustrated and described.